Q: I have a bounced cheque issued by a person who has already left the country and closed his local bank account. I filed a criminal case with the police some time ago, but there is no result till now. Can I do something else to get the money?

Q: Dear Sir, I lent someone money of a small amount, only AED 4000. Although I trust him and I know he was really in need, he issued blank-dated cheque signed by him and gave it to me as a security to repay me as promised by September last year. It's been 6 months now, and I am calling this person to repay the money but he is not interested to pay me and not answering my calls and messages. I know it is a small amount but for me who has a family back in my country, I really need the money for my obligations also. Please advise me what actions I must take to recover my money. he told me before not to encash the cheque because he already closed the account, but then he is not returning my calls anymore. How can I recover my money? Can I file a police complaint against him?

Q: Hi I am a Landlord; the tenant has not paid rent for 4 months and he is refusing to leave. The tenant says he was never given a contract nor Ejari and the tenant gave me a cheque which was not valid due to the account being closed. He was supposed to bring a new chequebook but never did. I opened a case regarding bounced cheque and a notice of eviction last month but the tenant never left the house. My question is, can I bring the case to the court even if I never issued an Ejari nor a legal contract? Kindly advise because I don’t know what to do at this point. Thanks in advance

س: لدي شيك من شخص بقيمة تسعون ألف درهم وللأسف الشيك صادر عن حساب مغلق ومحرِّر الشيك على علم مسبق بأن الحساب مغلق. بناءً عليه، هل يمكنني رفع قضية نصب واحتيال؟ وهل يمكن تحصيل المبلغ؟ مع العلم بأن محرر الشيك يقوم بتسجيل كل ما يملكه بأسماء أشخاص آخرين؟ يرجى الإجابة ولكم جزيل الشكر!

س: أعطاني شخص شيكات باسم شركة وعند محاولة صرفها تبين أن الحساب مغلق. ماذا أفعل؟

Q: Dear sir/madam, I want to recover a debt of 230,000AED from a company and its owner. How can you help if he has no money? I have cheques and they bounced because the account was closed.

In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.